Activity, short-term stability (poisoning tolerance) and durability of carbon supported Pt-Pr catalysts for ethanol oxidation

Author(s)

Corradini, Patricia G. ^[1] ; Antolini, Ermete ^[2] ; Perez, Joelma ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, BR-13560970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Scuola Sci Mat, I-16016 Genoa - Italy

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Power Sources; v. 251, p. 402-410, APR 1 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Pt-Pr/C electrocatalysts were prepared by a modified formic acid method, and their activity for carbon monoxide and ethanol oxidation, their short term stability and durability were compared to that of commercial Pt/C and Pt-Sn/C (3:1) catalysts. By derivative voltammetry (DV) it was found that ethanol electro-oxidation takes place by two main pathways at different potentials. It was observed that, in the presence of Pr, ethanol electro-oxidation takes place mostly through the pathway at lower potential, which is the most interesting for fuel cell application. The Pt-Pr/C catalysts were less tolerant to poisoning by ethanol oxidation intermediate species than Pt/C. Durability test by a repetitive potential cycling under Ar atmosphere revealed a good structural stability of Pt-Pr/C catalysts. A repetitive potential cycling under CO atmosphere carried out on the Pt-Pr/C (1:1) catalyst, instead, indicated a structural change, likely by formation of a core shell structure. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/20045-0 - Fuel cells: contributions to the development of catalysts and to the understanding of scaling up problems
• Grantee: Joelma Perez
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/12189-8 - Investigation of platinum-rare earth nanocatalysts supported in carbon for direct ethanol fuel cells
• Grantee: Patricia Gon Corradini
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate